U.S. patent application number 11/638353 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for pivoting belt or chain guard.
This patent application is currently assigned to American IronHorse Motorcycle Company. Invention is credited to Scott Waters.
Application Number | 20070152423 11/638353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38223570 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070152423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Waters; Scott |
July 5, 2007 |
Pivoting belt or chain guard
Abstract
A guard is provided for use with a flexible drive coupling of a
vehicle having a swingarm-type suspension, the flexible drive
coupling being for coupling a transmission output sprocket to a
wheel sprocket. The guard has a drive coupling guard portion; a
pivoting end; a wheel end; a wheel end attachment portion for
attaching the wheel end of the guard to the vehicle at a first
attachment point; and a pivoting end attachment portion for
attaching the pivoting end of the guard to the vehicle at a second
attachment point such that the guard is pivotable about the second
attachment point.
Inventors: |
Waters; Scott; (Arlington,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
American IronHorse Motorcycle
Company
Ft. Worth
TX
|
Family ID: |
38223570 |
Appl. No.: |
11/638353 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60750387 |
Dec 15, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/304.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/304.3 |
International
Class: |
B62J 27/00 20060101
B62J027/00 |
Claims
1. A guard for use with a flexible drive coupling of a vehicle
having a swingarm-type suspension, the flexible drive coupling
being for coupling a transmission output sprocket to a wheel
sprocket, the guard comprising: a drive coupling guard portion; a
pivoting end; a wheel end; a wheel end attachment portion for
attaching the wheel end of the guard to the vehicle at a first
attachment point; and a pivoting end attachment portion for
attaching the pivoting end of the guard to the vehicle at a second
attachment point such that the guard is pivotable about the second
attachment point.
2. The guard of claim 1, wherein the wheel end attachment portion
has a slot for receiving the first attachment point.
3. The guard of claim 2, wherein the slot is for receiving a wheel
axle of the motorcycle.
4. The guard of claim 3, wherein the pivoting end is for attaching
to a transmission of the vehicle such that the guard can rotate
relative to the transmission of the vehicle.
5. The guard of claim 4, wherein the pivoting end further comprises
a shoulder washer for attaching the guard to the transmission of
the vehicle.
6. The guard of claim 5, wherein the slot is for allowing the wheel
end attachment portion to move linearly relative to the wheel
axle.
7. The guard of claim 6, wherein the slot is for allowing the wheel
end attachment portion to rotate relative to the wheel axle.
8. The guard of claim 7, wherein the drive coupling guard portion
is detachable from the wheel attachment portion and the pivoting
attachment portion.
9. The guard of claim 8, wherein the drive coupling guard portion
is adapted to be detachable from the wheel attachment portion and
the pivoting attachment portion when the wheel attachment portion
and the pivoting attachment portion are attached to the vehicle,
and the drive coupling guard portion is adapted to be removable
from the vehicle when the wheel attachment portion and the pivoting
attachment portion remain attached to the vehicle.
10. The guard of claim 9, further comprising a second drive
coupling guard portion that is substantially perpendicular to the
drive coupling guard portion.
11. The guard of claim 3, wherein the slot is for allowing the
wheel end attachment portion to move linearly relative to the wheel
axle.
12. The guard of claim 11, wherein the slot is for allowing the
wheel end attachment portion to rotate relative to the wheel
axle.
13. The guard of claim 12, wherein the drive coupling guard portion
is detachable from the wheel attachment portion and the pivoting
attachment portion.
14. The guard of claim 13, wherein the drive coupling guard portion
is adapted to be detachable from the wheel attachment portion and
the pivoting attachment portion when the wheel attachment portion
and the pivoting attachment portion are attached to the vehicle,
and the drive coupling guard portion is adapted to be removable
from the vehicle when the wheel attachment portion and the pivoting
attachment portion remain attached to the vehicle.
15. The guard of claim 14, further comprising a second drive
coupling guard portion that is substantially perpendicular to the
drive coupling guard portion.
16. The guard of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle and
the first attachment point is a rear wheel axle of the
motorcycle.
17. The guard of claim 16, wherein the flexible drive coupling is a
belt that attaches the transmission sprocket of the motorcycle to
the wheel sprocket of the motorcycle.
18. The guard of claim 16, wherein the flexible drive coupling is a
chain that attaches the transmission sprocket of the motorcycle to
the wheel sprocket of the motorcycle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/750,387 filed Dec. 15, 2005, which is
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
[0002] The invention relates to a guard for a belt or a chain. More
particularly, the invention relates to a guard for a drive belt or
a drive chain for a motorcycle.
ARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An embodiment of the invention provides a guard for use with
a flexible drive coupling of a vehicle having a swingarm -type
suspension, the flexible drive coupling being for coupling a
transmission output sprocket to a wheel sprocket. The guard has a
drive coupling guard portion; a pivoting end; a wheel end; a wheel
end attachment portion for attaching the wheel end of the guard to
the vehicle at a first attachment point; and a pivoting end
attachment portion for attaching the pivoting end of the guard to
the vehicle at a second attachment point such that the guard is
pivotable about the second attachment point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Further advantages and details of the invention follow from
the exemplary embodiments and are explained in the following with
the aid of the Figure, in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an example of a guard assembly
in accordance with the invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the guard
assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portion shown in FIG.
2;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side view of the portion shown in FIG. 2;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shoulder washer in
accordance with the invention;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a front view of the shoulder washer shown in FIG.
5;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a sectional view along section line VII-VII in
FIG. 6;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a wave spring washer in
accordance with the invention;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a side view of the wave spring washer shown in
FIG. 8;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a front view of the wave spring washer shown in
FIG. 8;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a retaining cap in
accordance with the invention;
[0016] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the retaining cap shown in FIG.
11;
[0017] FIG. 13 is a front view of the retaining cap shown in FIG.
11;
[0018] FIG. 14 is a sectional view along section line XIV-XIV in
FIG. 13;
[0019] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a shoulder washer in
accordance with the invention;
[0020] FIG. 16 is a rear view of the shoulder washer shown in FIG.
15;
[0021] FIG. 17 is a front view of the shoulder washer shown in FIG.
15;
[0022] FIG. 18 is a sectional view along section line XVIII-XVIII
in FIG. 17;
[0023] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a wave spring washer in
accordance with the invention;
[0024] FIG. 20 is a side view of the wave spring washer shown in
FIG. 19;
[0025] FIG. 21 is a front view of the wave spring washer shown in
FIG. 19;
[0026] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a spacer in accordance with
the invention;
[0027] FIG. 23 is a rear view of the spacer shown in FIG. 22;
[0028] FIG. 24 is a front view of the spacer shown in FIG. 22;
and
[0029] FIG. 25 is a sectional view along section line XXV-XXV in
FIG. 24.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The invention will be described using the example of a belt
guard for use on a motorcycle having a drive belt that connects an
output shaft of the motorcycle's transmission to the rear wheel of
the motorcycle.
[0031] In this example, the pivoting feature of the guard allows
the guard assembly to be one piece and also tightly follow the
chain or belt. Non-pivoting guards are made of two detached pieces
(one being attached to the swing arm and the other being attached
to the frame) and/or are positioned to allow for movement of the
swing arm such that the guard does not hit the chain or belt.
[0032] The example shown in FIG. 1 is pivotably attached to a
transmission at one end and is attached to the motorcycle at its
other end by way of a slot. The slot receives the rear wheel axle
or some extension of the axle. It may be advantageous to provide a
bushing that rotates freely about the axle so that the slot does
not directly contact the axle or any other part that rotates with
the axle. By providing such a bushing (or some other similar
element), friction between the axle and the slot can be greatly
reduced.
[0033] While the example shown in the figures has a particular
shape, it is noted that any other appropriate shape can be used.
Also, while it may be preferable to include guard portions that
cover the top, bottom and side of the belt or chain, some
embodiments cover only the side of the belt or chain. Still other
embodiments cover only the top of the belt or chain, or only the
top and bottom of the belt or chain (realizing that some support
structure may be needed that covers a small portion of the side of
the belt or chain). The pivoting and sliding nature of the
invention permits shapes that are not available with a non-pivoting
guard. In addition, the invention permits smaller, more visually
attractive guards because it is not necessary to allow for vertical
movement of the belt or chain relative to the guard.
[0034] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a guard assembly 10 which is
an example of an embodiment of the invention. Guard assembly 10
has, in this example, three main components, a shield 100, a
transmission mount 110, and an axle mount 120. FIGS. 2 and 3 show
that shield 100, transmission mount 110 and axle mount 120 are
bolted together using bolts 130, washers 140, and nuts 150 to form
one rigid assembly. FIG. 3 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a
side view, of shield 100, transmission mount 110, and axle mount
120 in the assembled state. The slot shown in axle mount 120 allows
for movement between the wheel axle and mount 120. This movement
may be necessary when the suspension is compressed (or extended)
while the motorcycle is being ridden and/or when the rear axle
position is adjusted to tighten or loosen the belt (or chain).
[0035] Although other embodiments of the invention provide a
shield, a transmission mount, and an axle mount in one piece,
providing three separate pieces as shown in FIGS. 1-4 allows shield
100 to be removed from the motorcycle without having to remove the
rear wheel, axle, swingarm or any other piece. This can be
advantageous if, for example, shield 100 is damaged and needs to be
replaced, or if shield 100 is to be removed for some other reason.
In particular applications, this removability of shield 100 can
allow the drive belt to be removed from the motorcycle without
requiring removal of the rear wheel. In addition, having
transmission mount 110 and axle mount 120 being separate pieces
from shield 100 allows different shaped shields 100 to be used.
This is advantageous when, for example, a motorcycle owner wants to
customize his or her motorcycle by using a different shield 100,
but does not want to suffer the expense of purchasing an entire new
guard assembly.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows additional components that can be used to
attach transmission mount 110 to the transmission of the
motorcycle. In this example, these additional components include a
retaining cap 160, a retaining washer 170, a shoulder washer 180,
and a wave spring washer 190. In this example, retaining cap 160 is
a flat washer-like disc and retaining washer 170 is a flat washer.
FIGS. 5-7 show in more detail an example of shoulder washer 180.
FIGS. 8-10 show in more detail an example of wave spring washer
190. FIG. 1 also shows additional components that are used, in this
example, to attach axle mount 120 to the rear axle of the
motorcycle. These additional components include a retaining cap
200, a retaining washer 210, a shoulder washer 220, a wave spring
washer 230, and a spacer 240. FIGS. 11-14 show in more detail an
example of retaining cap 200. Retaining washer 210 is a flat
washer. FIGS. 15-18 show in more detail an example of shoulder
washer 220. FIGS. 19-21 show in more detail an example of wave
spring washer 230. FIGS. 22-25 show in more detail an example of
spacer 240. Spacer 240 slides over the rear wheel axle of the
motorcycle and acts as a bearing between shoulder washer 220 and
the rear wheel axle. By providing lateral pressure on the
components, wave washers 190, 230 keep the components together to
act as bearings for mounts 110, 120.
[0037] The components shown in FIG. 1 are just one example of how
transmission mount 110 and axle mount 120 can be attached to the
motorcycle. Other attachment systems can be used as long as they
allow transmission mount 110 to rotate relative to the transmission
and allow axle mount 120 to rotate and slide relative to the rear
wheel axle.
[0038] It is also noted that while the invention has been described
as applied to a motorcycle having a swing-arm type suspension, the
invention can also be applied to other suspension configurations
that allow for movement of a wheel relative to at least one of the
mounting points of the guard. The invention is also applicable to
vehicles with three or more wheels.
[0039] The invention is not limited to the above-described
exemplary embodiments. It will be apparent, based on this
disclosure, to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes
and modifications can be made to the invention without departing
from the spirit and scope thereof.
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